I found a great
pattern online for a tote bag that was easy to sew. If you go here:
http://www.make-it-easy.com/opentot2.htmlyou can
see the pattern and print it off. I can’t copy the pattern here on my site due
to copyright laws, but if you print the pattern off, I will give you some
step-by-step pictures of how to assemble this tote bag.

Now for starters I did
make some changes. The pattern calls for webbing to be used as the handles. I
made my own handles out of fabric and I will be giving you instructions of
that. I liked using fabric because I could pick something that coordinated with
my bag.

You need to use a heavy
type of fabric. I used denim, but afterwards felt like I could have used
heavier denim. Also the pattern calls for 44 inch wide fabric and denim comes
in 60 inch bolts. I purchased 1 yard instead of the 1 3/8 yards called for.
This gave me enough to make one bag and have some leftover denim to save for
my next blue jean quilt or some other use.

One thing I did to help
me with this pattern was to make a pattern out of tissue paper that was the
needed size (22”x48”).

I started with fabric
that had been washed and ironed. The first thing I did was lay out my fabric
and pin the pattern on and cut it out.

Then I made the handle.
I bought ¾ of a yard of 44” wide fabric.

I then cut the fabric
into strips. You want your strips to be about 5 or 6 inches wide.

I sewed the strips
together until I had over the needed 3 ¼ yards of length. In the picture I have them sergered together, but sewing them together with a regular sewing machine works
just fine.

Then I took my strip and
folded it in half the long way and ironed it with wrong sides together.

Then I opened it up and
folded the raw edges in to meet the center line and ironed that in place.

Then I refolded it along
the center line to close it up and then sewed it closed. This will make a fairly heavy duty long strip that has
no raw edges.

Then I measured out my 3 ¼ yards, drew a chalk
line and cut it

Then, being careful to
keep the strap from getting twisted I sewed the ends together and proceeded
with the pattern using my strip in place of the webbing called for and following the given directions.
I made
the marks indicated on the pattern and making the handles as directed in the
instructions.

I then pinned the
strap to my fabric and sewed it in place.

I turned the bag, right
sides together and sewed up the side seams:

I sewed the corners of
the bag according to the instructions. I lined up my side seams with the center
of the bottom of the bag and measured from the end point of the triangle 3 ½
inches and marked it with chalk and then sewed across it.

I did this to both sides,
tuned the bag right side out and hemmed the top.

Here is the finished bag:

I hope with this easy
pattern and a few pictures to help you, you will be able to make your own tote
bag!